Chapter 3: The Cold Pavement
The heavy oak side doors of the cathedral slammed shut behind us with a dull, final thud. The afternoon sun had dipped behind the towering glass skyscrapers of Midtown, casting long, freezing shadows across the concrete sidewalk. A single black town car idled at the curb, its tinted windows hiding the driver, but Julian didn't open the door for us. Instead, he handed me a thick, heavy envelope stuffed with cash—hundreds of dollars—his fingers brushing against mine. They were as cold as ice.
“You can’t stay in the apartment anymore, Lily,” Julian said, looking down at me with an expression that felt too fragile for his face. “Victoria’s brother has already notified building security. They’ll change the locks by nightfall. Take this. Go to the diner on Fourth Street. Wait for me there.”
I looked at the envelope in my hand, then up at his dark, well-groomed hair that was already coming slightly undone in the wind. “You’re not coming with us?”
“I have to fix this,” he said, though his voice lacked any conviction. It sounded like a man trying to convince himself he could hold back the tide with a broom. “Just... keep her safe tonight.”
May you like
Without another word, he turned back toward the heavy doors of the venue, his black tuxedo jacket catching the chill of the autumn air. He disappeared inside before the heavy brass handles even finished swinging.
I stood on the sidewalk with my scuffed sneakers planted firmly on the gray pavement. My baby sister stirred in my arms, letting out a soft whimper as the wind cut through her thin cream romper. I pulled the frayed edges of my dusty blue dress tighter around her, wrapping her as best as I could against the Manhattan chill. I didn't go to the town car. I didn't wait for him to lead us anywhere else. I adjusted her weight on my hip, checked the heavy envelope tucked securely into my pocket, and started walking toward the subway entrance down the block. I knew the city better than he thought. We didn't need his waiting rooms or his secret instructions. We needed a warm booth and a cup of hot water with sugar.
